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Please help!

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Nancy

Hi, completely new to this - but desperately hoping some-one can help me. Recently my son lost his very old hamster - and having had guinea pigs before I brought two males from P@H to keep in the house. He was thrilled - and bonded with one in particular. Two days after having them I noticed some gunk around the eyes and panicked (him just also having lost a previous pet) and got my husband to take them to the vets. The vet said they were breathing heavily and put them both on antibiotics. We gave them twice a day - and removed the gunk from the eyes. They seemed to be getting better. Only last night I lifted the lid of their sleeping compartment to find the one he particularly bonded with dead! He was in bed - so we quickly removed the remaining guinea pig from the cage and disinfected everything - and threw all the wooden toys etc etc away. I was so upset - and not only for my son. I phoned P@H and said that I had lost the piggie within a week - to which they said I could get a free replacement - I didn't want a replacement I was phoning to warn them about the other piggies they may have left. My husband is taking the other piggie back to the vets today - but I don't hold out much help. Please, please, please does anyone have anything I can try. I am going to have to tell my 7 year old he has lost one tonight (told him they were both sleeping today - and that they had been up late - so not to wake them) and will do anything to prevent losing another piggie. Any advice please!!
 
Hello and welcome to the forum

Sorry to hear about the troubles with your pigs - P@H should pay the vets bills really, could you take this up with their head office? I know it's not the point - but it would be good to make the point.

I really hope the other little guy pulls through. Hopefully someone with more experience of this sort of illness will be along soon.

All I can say with your son is - although he's young, is there a nice way of telling him the truth? Only my parents told us our rabbit had 'gone to live with the vets' when he had to be put to sleep, and it's horrible finding out afterwards!

Fingers crossed for your remaining piggy

Sophie
x
 
I'm so sorry for your loss.

Pets at Home should pay for your treatment of your pigs and also give you a full refund on the one you have lost. Is pig eating? I would be syringe feeding and offering water through a syringe if not. You can mash pellets with warm water (grind them first as they are easier to mash then) or you can get a food substance called Critical Care from your vet.

Similar happened to me with my Sheltie and he passed away (although we didn't quite know why as he had genetic issues) and it's hard loosing a pet when there are children involved. I told my Daughter the truth and we said goodbye to Cuzzy and planted a little bush in the garden and also released balloons up to heaven. The things you have to do with a 7 and 3 year old. :)

Keep us posted on how pig is and welcome to the forum,

Louise
x
 
Does appear to be eating very small amounts - but will get my husband to get the critical care from the vets. I have kicked myself several times over for buying from P@H - I should have known better!

Thanx for your kind thoughts.

I'll let you know the progress
 
Sorry to hear about your little piggies. You could syringe half a vitamin c tablet daily to help fight off any infection and when well again it is ok to continue doing this daily to make sure he is getting enough because vitamin c is vital in a piggie's diet. Hope this helps :)
 
am really sorry for your lost, i am sitting here typing this with tears running down my face. :'( :'( :'( perhap not sure of your belief's but you could tell your son god wanted the piggy, or if a relative has passed on like say gran you could say gran was lonely and wanted the piggy. the more i hear about P&H i hope and pray they don't come here to australia. perhaps try your piggy on some grass and give plenty of hay. welcome to the forums from me and the girls in oz :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: girls send :-* :-* :-* and know we're thinking of you and sending good vibes to your remaining piggy. :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: RIP sweet piggy and dear hamster run free together and have fun in paradise 0:) 0:) 0:)
 
Hi All, thanks so much for your kind words. I took the guinea pig to the vets - and they weren't hopefull. However they have had him in overnight - and have been feeding and syringing in antibiotics - and he has made it through the night!! The vet thinks the problem is being made worse by the fact that he isn't eating any fresh veg - which is not for the want of trying on my part. She says its because at P@H they don't get offered it so they don't eat any - but I just have to keep offering it. I am going to phone around 4pm to see if the piggie (coco) has to spend another night at the vets. Nancy
 
Oh no how awful I hope coco pulls throught this ok. P@H have a lot to answer for I would deffo get on the phone and get them to pay vets bills x
 
I am so sorry, I lost one of my two first piggies on the third day I had them, and I was quite young, so I can sympathise with your son and you. It's hard and quite a shock too, so I'm so sorry :(
I really hope little Coco gets better, please keep us updated
 
I'm so sorry to hear about your piggies. I lost 2 little ones that i got from the dreaded P@H too, one within a week and the other after a struggle and numerous trips to the vets. The money wasn't the issue, although P@H refunded the vets bills, like you we wanted to tell them what had happened in case it was a problem with the breeder. We were both gutted to lose the little sweeties. I really hope Coco pulls through!

x
 
sorry for your loss, sending you and your family healing thoughts and love, hope you have good news about Coco soon
 
Hi and welcome to the forum from us in OZ :)
I'm so so sorry to hear about your little precious furbaby 0:) 0:) 0:) :'( :'( :'( :'( :'(
Sounds like your vets are doing everything for them that's great O0
We'll be keeping our paws crossed and sending some healing wheeks for little Coco and yourselves :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: :smitten:
Don't blame yourself love if they've not had the right start to life it's very difficult to change things it all takes time :) When Coco comes home just keep trying to tempt him with fresh veggies and fruit O0 :) :) :)
 
This is so sad and I'm so sorry to hear of it. I always found when my kids were little it was always best to tell them the truth, they accept it far better than we think. As long as they have a little cross/bush or even a pot plant to change whenever they feel like it makes them accept it easier
 
Coco is home!! I am feeding the build-up stuff through a syringe - and he is lapping it up. Thank goodness. I was going to leave it for a while - until I make sure that he is completely better - but should I get another one for company? One of the nurses at the vet suggested a rabbit - but everywhere I have read said this was a bad idea as the rabbit can bully the guinea pig. Would it be difficult introducing another - I thought you'd just do it gradually. Surely he would be better on his own - with lots of handling from us than with a rabbit? Any advice on where to get a new piggy - if thats the best for coco - greatly received.
 
Hi

I would definatley not get a Rabbit, as the Rabbit can bully the Guinea Pig and also it's been known for accidents to happen, like the Rabbit sits on top of the Guinea Pig or the Guinea Pig has been squashed in the corner, this happened to a friend of mine.
You could get another guinea pig but you would have to get a male, or get your little boy castrated when he is older and get a little girl.
Sometimes it has been known for 2 male guinea pigs to fight.
If he gets lots of attention they can live happily on there own. It take it that he lives inside.

Jaye
 
So glad little Coco is home and eating the critical care. :)

If mine are poorly and off fresh veg the one thing they will sometimes eat is grass from the garden. Might be worth a try.
 
Hi, sorry to hear about the loss of your piggie :'( I would recommend that you get another guinea pig (and not a rabbit) for coco. The reason for this is because I adopted a pig and she was quite happy. However, from a bit of research, I discovered that guinea pigs enjoy company so I brought another female a few days later. Since that day they have became the best of friends and I wouldn't change my decision for the world. I have also heard that when introducing guinea pigs, the younger the better especially in boars. If you need anymore advice on introducing guinea pigs don't hesitate to get in touch :smiley6600:
Claire x
 
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